Hope you all don't get sick of my ?s!

The shelter in my area is blessed with a significant amount of funding. There's a mini park on the premises where volunteers take the dogs for walks, and the shelter hosts agility classes (on-site) for current and former shelter residents. There are lots of grooming supplies available for volunteers, and the shelter encourages people to help the animals with some basic obedience, groom them, and just generally shower them with attention.

For "small furries" like rabbits they have portable play pens so the animals can get out of their cages and hop around outside in a safe environment. Cats get to go out into the "play room" filled with cat toys.

It's a no-kill shelter (thanks to the funding!) and does a lot of community outreach as well. Much love for them and all of their hard workers!

Sherman Animal Shelter is clean, efficiently run, has a mobile pet adoption every Saturday at the Petco at Sherman Town Center. And they have a 7 day euth. schedule. Except for one dog, a female Lab. 7.5 years ago, her owner poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. He received a probated 6 month sentence and she receive reconstructive surgery, which holds her together. The state of Texas has mandated that she will live out her life at the shelter. The suspect had dark skin and she goes ballistic at anyone with dark skin and is not all that well around whites either, humans in general. One cannot forbid adoption on the basis of skin color, so she can't legally be offered for adoption. That and living in a kennel all of her life to where she can't be socialized. I wish they would PTS just to ease her suffering but I think she is kept as an example of the cruelty of humans. She's not in pain but she can't have a normal, happy dog life and she can't room with other dogs. But she has at least one angel that begs and pleads to bring her stuff. This one lady wasn't taking no for an answer when she was asking an ACO if she could bring treats, etc, and be allowed to visit with her. They kept telling her that wasn't possible and she kept right on not listening. I walked away, as listening to both of them was frustrating. The lady meant well but she was specifically ignoring the fact that the dog is beyond socialization and the shelter can't afford the insurance risk of the lady being hurt. That's how mean the dog is. And frustrating (to me) that the dog can't be PTS, that she should even be in this situation, that I would dearly love to have 5 minutes alone with the garbage that did this to her. So, I walk on and see Sibes and Sibe mixes and know that I don't have the money, etc, to rescue them at this time, either.
 
So, I donate to the shelter when I can. Tomorrow, if possible, we are going over there to donate towels, sheets, and Jade's kitten food, as she is now ready for adult food. And yes, I'll look. And wish. And wrap some electrical tape around the rip in my heart.
 

When I adopted Emma, she had parvo. I called and spoke to the shelter director, who didn't believe me. I had my vet call her, and she argued with my vet.

I volunteer at the OTHER shelter in town, now, and do all of my donating to them.

Except for one dog, a female Lab. 7.5 years ago, her owner poured gasoline on her and set her on fire. He received a probated 6 month sentence and she receive reconstructive surgery, which holds her together. The state of Texas has mandated that she will live out her life at the shelter.

That is an incredibly sad story at more than one level. Being confined for 7.5 years, just adds to the torture inflicted upon this dog. And a six month sentence...We can probably rest assured that this person eventually wound up with a lengthy prison sentence for other crimes.

Quite possibly the suspect could be involved in other criminal activities and may be serving time for those.
 
I did go to the shelter yesterday, donated the kitten food, an old comforter, blanket, towels, and a rug that I had bought for Shadow's dog house but he never used. And I walked through the kennels.

 
This dog was labelled as a Healer, when actually, it is a Shiba Inu. In fact, the dog in the shelter looked just like this pic.
 
The female lab is still there. There are 3 or 4 litters of puppies. So, people need to realize that you can adopt a puppy, as opposed to a 1 year old.
 
But they are doing the best they can, they're just not really familiar with northern breeds. So, they will describe it with something in their experience. And yes, a Shiba Inu would be rare around here but it doesn't stop it from happening, does it? Anyway, she was sweet and quiet and even sat, in the hopes of earning attention. A heartwarmer, for any one such as myself, that even has a clue.
 
I was shaking and jittery when I left. No tears, mind you, but rattled. Siberians have become common in Texas, primarily since "Snowdogs" came out. But a Shiba Inu? And how does a rare snow dog wind up in a shelter? You know it would have been an expensive purchase, around $1500, conservatively.
 
I couldn't tell if my nerves were from helplessness, rage, or the knowledge of her impending doom.
 

ORIGINAL: ron2

And how does a rare snow dog wind up in a shelter? You know it would have been an expensive purchase, around $1500, conservatively.

They end up there because the idiot pet stores stock them (anything new and different, right?), sell them to unsuspecting newbie owners, and the newbies can't train or handle those breeds very well.  Voila - off to the shelter. [:'(]

3 of my 5 dogs are rescues.
Luke the oldest was 1 year when he came to me, totally underweight, he had been starved and beaten to shape him into a K9 dog , mind you he was a project of an active police officer, a little hobby if you please.
This dog didn't even know he was a German Shepherd, it was sad.
 
My Husky /Mal mix came to me as a 5 month old puppy, skinny wasn't the word to describe this dog's frame.
He had been ravaged by hookworms.......
 
The Husky/ Chow mix was not a favorite in the adoption circle, the lady at Petsmart, who works for a Virginia rescue group didn't see any hope for getting this puppy adopted out. The breed mixture, the size, and as she descibed to me,everybody wants a perfect little fluffy thing.
Well, his eyes bore right into my heart, and he went home with me.
 
My experience with adoption has been a positive one.I wish I could take in more, but I have 5 dogs, 3 cats, 2 of the cats are rescues, one was brought back from Georgia, he was the dumpster kitty which had been shot, now he is missing an eye...........we love them all.

 Later this week he will be put on Petfinders and made available for adoption. 


makes me wish i lived closer to where you are, i would adopt him in a heartbeat
and i really love his name =D